Assemblage for forming and straightening

ABSTRACT

An assemblage for forming and straightening elongated articles in which the primary forming and straightening force is exerted through an elongated articulated member defining a relatively elongated segment engageable with a portion of the elongated article, such segment extending axially of the elongated article engaged thereby and being selectively generative from a linear configuration and through various arcuate configurations from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent arc at the apex of engagement thereof with the elongated article.

United States Patent [191 Leithiser Aug. 13, 1974 ASSEMBLAGE FOR FORMING AND STRAIGHTENING [76] Inventor: George L. Leithiser, R.D. No. 3,

York, Pa. 17404 22 Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 337,986

[52] US. Cl 72/383, 72/171, 72/173, 72/183 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 5/02 [58] Field of Search 72/183, 170, 171, 173, 72/383; 140/147; 254/134.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1900 Morris 72/171 l/l930 Farr...

2,286,255 6/1942 Brooks 2,746,513 5/1956 Kiesow et al. 72/183 3,145,016 8/1964 Leithiscr 254/1343 3,443,607 5/1969 Dittrich 72/183 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner.lames R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Browne, Beveridge, DeGrandi & Kline [5 7] ABSTRACT An assemblage for forming and straightening elongated articles in which the primary forming and straightening force is exerted through an elongated articulated member defining a relatively elongated segment engageable with a portion of the elongated article, such segment extending axially of the elongated article engaged thereby and being selectively generative from a linear configuration and through various arcuate configurations from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent are at the apex of engagement thereof with the elongated article.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures l/l969 Supina et a1. 72/173 PATENTED AUG 1 3 I974 SHEEI 1 [1F 4 PATENIEDAUGISIBH saw u [1F 4 "iiilll lli l tum-ram FIGIO ASSEMBLAGE FOR FORMING AND STRAIGHTENING BRIEF BACKGROUND, FIELD AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in assemblages for forming and straightening elongated articles.

Considerable difficulty has been encountered in the bending and/or straightening of metal tubing and the like. Use of previously provided apparatus designed for this purpose has generally resulted in some undesirable deformation of the tubing. Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is the provision of a forming and straightening device for elongated articles such as metal tubing and the like in which the forming and straightening force is exerted along a considerable area of the elongated article.

A further object is the provision of a forming and straightening device which includes a plurality of subassemblages which are movable to define a relatively elongated segment extending axially of an elongated article and being selectively generative from a linear configuration and through various arcuate configurations from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent are at the apex of engagement thereof with an elongated article.

The description of the invention as being useful in straightening and forming of metal tubing and the like is to be understood as merely illustrative of the materials in connection with which the device may be used BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side plan view of the assemblage for forming and straightening, showing the same in a situation for the straightening of tubing as it is unwound from a coiled condition.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the elongated articulated member which engages the elongated article in the straightening and forming operation.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are cross sectional views taken respectively on the lines 6 6, 7 7, 8 8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a view of a modified form of the invention, showing how the same may be used in bending of tubular articles such as steel tubing and the like.

FIG. 11 is a modified form of a mounting means for positioning the article engaging means to selectively generate the segmental shape thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein are shown preferred and modified embodiments of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 9; B the embodiment as shown in FIG. 10; and C the embodiment as shown in FIG. 11.

Forming and straightening assemblage A preferably includes an elongated frame 20 having spaced apart reaction means 22 and 23 mounted thereon, article engaging means 24, and mounting means 25 for supporting and positioning article engaging means 24 with re spect to elongated frame 20.

Elongated frame 20 may include a pair of spaced apart side plates 28 and 29 to which may be interconnected mounting means 25 such as by bolts 30, such connection maintaining side plates 28 and 29 in appropriate spaced apart position relative to one another. Each end of each side plate 28 and 29 is preferably provided with a depending portion 31.

Reaction means 22 and 23 may each comprise a pulley 35 which may be rotatably mounted on an axle 36 attached to and extending between spaced apart depending portions 31 of side plates 28 and 29. As shown, the respective pulleys 35 are preferably positioned with their axes of rotation parallel and in an aligned position for interengagement with an elongated article which may extend therebetween. Reaction means 22 and 23 each preferably comprise a rotatable pulley so that an elongated article, such as metal tubing 40, as shown in FIG. 1, may be continuously fed through the forming and straightening device.

Article engaging means 24 likewise preferably comprises a pulley assembly so that an elongated article, such as metal tubing 40 can be continually fed through the forming and straightening device.

Article engaging means 24 preferably includes a plurality of pulley sub-assemblies 45, 46 and 47 pivotally joined to pairs of relatively geared side plates 48 and 49; and 50 and 51 by shafts or axles 53, 54, 55 and 56.

Each pulley sub-assembly 45, 46 and 47 preferably includes a pair of freely rotatable pulleys or sheaves 60 mounted axles 57 and 53, 54 and 55, and 56 and 58; a pair of spacing washers 61 for each pulley 60; and a pair of relatively geared side plates 36 and 64 to complete the sub-assembly.

A pair of side plates 66 and 67 are provided for interconnection of article engaging means 24 to mounting means 25. As shown, the outermost sides of each side plate 66 and 67 may be provided with an attaching means 70 for interconnection of article engaging means 24 to mounting means 25. Each side plate 66 and 67 is provided with an elongated slot 72 adjacent the outermost ends thereof, axles 53 and 56 extending into and being received by opposed slots 72 of side plates 66 and 67. Axles 53 and 56 slide along slots 72 in accordance with the arcuate configuration assumed by article engaging means 24.

Side plates 63 and 64 of pulley sub-assembly 46 are preferably provided with a series of geared teeth 74 in their approximate arcuate ends. The side plates 63 and 64 of pulley sub-assemblies 45 and 47 are likewise provided with a series of geared teeth 75 in only one of their arcuate ends 76, arranged in such a manner that their geared teeth 74 and 75 are in a meshed relationship in each case. Side plates 48 and 49, and 50 and 51 are also provided with a series of geared teeth 77 and 78 intheir respective adjacent arcuate ends 79 and 80 in such a manner that teeth 77 and 78 are in meshed relationship.

As shown, the adjacent ends of sub-assemblies 45, 46 and 47 are in an interengaging relation for relative rotational movement with respect to each other. Gear teeth 74 and 75 have been found to be a convenient means of providing such interengaging relationship. Any suitable form of positive interconnecting drive and follower relationship, for instance, friction engagement, could be provided in place of the gear teeth shown and described.

Referring to FIG. 4, the relative articulative movement of article engaging means 24 to form a relatively elongate segment of an arc is clearly shown. Considering this assembly as a unit, it will be noted that a number of axles 53, 54 and 57 are arranged on left side thereof, while an equal number of axles 55, 56 and 58 are similarly arranged on right side thereof.

If a force is applied to the pulley of axle 57 towards the same in a downward direction as at 82, as shown in FIG. 4, sub-assembly 45 will tend to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about axle 53. The gear teeth 75 in rotating about axle 53 rotate the gear teeth 74 of plates 63 and 64 in a clockwise direction about axle 54. However, since gear teeth 77 are rotating in a planetary manner about axle 54, gear teeth 78 are imparted in a clockwise rotation about axle 55. Here is a condition where two counter-acting forces are applied to subassembly 46, one a clockwise rotational force applied at axle 55, as shown in dotted line, and a counterclockwise rotational force applied at axle 54, as shown in dotted lines. Since the center distances of all of the axles relative to one another are equal, the forces applied are also equal. Therefore, these two counteracting forces are combined and the resultant of these forces moves the entire sub-assembly 46 upward in a vertical direction with the axis of the axles 54 and 55 remaining para-lel and horizontal. It further becomes obvious that as force 82 is applied to the pulley on axle 57 to provide a counter-clockwise rotation about axle 53, rotation is also transmitted in a similar degree, but of opposite rotation to that of its mating part to all of the intcrmeshed tooth parts, resulting in axle 58 rotating clockwise about axle 56. It is apparent from this that as an elongated article is passed through forming and straightening device A, the pulleys will adjust themselves in a proper true centered arcuate path so as to equally distribute the force applied thereby over all of the pulleys.

It is, of course, obvious that any number of pulleys arranged in a number of similar sub-assemblies can be used.

It may be noted that a somewhat similar pulley subassembly relationship is shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,l45,0l6, dated Aug. 18, 1964, for use in stringing electrical transmission lines over supporting towers.

Mounting means 25 may include an elongated frame 90 having a pair of spaced-apart side plates 94 and 95 interconnected by a central web 96. Side plates 94 and 95 adjacent one end thereof may have inturned flange portions 97 and 98 which define a slideway 99 for a purpose as will be subsequently described. Side plates 4 94 and may be respectively attached to side plates 28 and 29 of frame 20 by bolts 30.

Means 100 for positioning elongated article engaging means 24 may be mounted on frame 93. As shown, the same may include a bearing block 101, nut and slide 102, an elongated screw member 103, sprockets 104,

and suitable flexible elongate members 105, such as a chain, cable, or the like, one end of each of which is attached to nut and slide member 102 and the other end of each of which is attached to an attaching member 70 of article engaging means 24. As shown, one end of screw member 103 is rotatably supported in bearing 101, nut and slide 102 including a lower plate member 108 which is slidably received within slideway 99, as shown in FIG. 2. Sprockets 104 may be suitably rotatably mounted in pillow blocks 110.

As shown, mounting means 25 not only provides a means for supporting article engaging means 24, but also provides a means for raising and lowering the same along a path normal to an axial line extending between reaction means 22 and 23. As positioning means 100 selectively moves article engaging means 24 into engagement with an elongated article 40, elongated article 40 is urged into tangential abutment with reaction means 22 and 23, initially for linear extension between reaction means 22 and 23, article engaging means 24 then assuming a segmental shape as shown in FIGS. 5-8, and thence, if and as desired, to various positions such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, so that an elongated article extending between reaction means 22 and 23 is urged into the desired degree of concave extension therebetween. The reaction force of engagement of article engaging means 24 at selected positions with an elongated article comprises, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, means to selectively generate the desired segmental shape of article engaging means 24. If article engaging means 24 is raised upwardly, toward elongated frame 20, the same comprises an arculate segment having a short radius, and if lowered, the radius thereof is lengthened.

Of course, it is not absolutely necessary that mounting means 25 be attached to elongated frame 20. For instance, supporting structure could be provided whereby article engaging means 24 was supported adjacent its lowermost side and such as a hydraulic jack could be used to push article engaging means 24 along a path normal to an axial line extending between reaction means 22 and 23 in place of the pulling force exerted by the mounting means shown.

Whereas the operation shown in form A of the invention shows use of the straightening and forming device in straightening of metal. tubing and the like, form B, as shown in FIG. 10 shows use thereof in bending of metal tubing 112 or the like. Since the various parts of this form of theinvention are virtually identical to those of form A, identical reference characters, with a prime character added, have been applied thereto.

In operation of form B of the invention as shown, article engaging means 24' may be positioned as shown in dot and dash lines to initially engage an elongated article 112 intermediate of reaction means 22 and 23. Article engaging means 24' is then raised along a path normal to an axial line extending between reaction means 22 and 23', to the position as shown in full lines in FIG. 10. As previously noted, the pulleys 60' of article engaging means24' act to apply equal forces along quite a large area of elongated article 112. This is in obvious contradistinction to present bending procedures in which a die of a fixed radius may be used for bending purposes, and which, in the early stages of bending, concentrates the entire bending force at a single point at the apex of the die.

Form C of the invention shows a modified means 100" for positioning an elongated article engaging means such as 24 and 24. Means 100" may include a hydraulic cylinder 115 having a plunger 116 which is attached to a slide 117 for a movement of the same in the same manner as nut and slide 102 of form A is moved. in this form of the invention, reference characters with a double prime character have been applied to parts thereof which correspond to the structure shown in connection with form-A.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a forming and straightening device for elongated articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced apart reaction means mounted on said frame and positioned for axial engagement with spaced apart portions of an elongated article extending therebetween, article engaging means positioned for engagement with a portion of the elongated article intermediate said spaced apart reaction means, said article engaging means comprising an elongated articulated member defining a relatively elongated segment engageable with a portion of the elongated article intermediate said spaced apart reaction means, said segment of said elongated articulated member extending axially of the elongated article engaged thereby and being selectively generative from a linear configuration and through various arcuate configurations from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent are at the apex of engagement thereof with the elongated article, mounting means for said article engaging means, said mounting means including positioning means for selective movement of said article engaging means to various attitudes of engagement with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means, the reaction force of engagement of said article engaging means with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means comprising means for selectively generating the desired segmental shape of said article engaging means.

2. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 1, including means for positioning of said article engaging means relative to said reaction means to vary the segmental shape of said elongated articulated member.

3. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 1 wherein said reaction means comprises a pair of spaced apart pulleys having parallel axes of rotation and positioned with the outer peripheries thereof rotatably engageable with the elongated article extending axially therebetween.

4. In a forming and straightening device for elongated articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced apart reaction means mounted on said frame and positioned for axial engagement with spaced apart portions of an elongated article extending therebetween, article engaging means positioned intermediate said spaced apart reaction means for axial engagement with a portion of an elongated article extending between such spaced apart reaction means, said article engaging means including a plurality of sub-assemblies positioned to provide a contact area extending along a relatively elongate portion of the elongated article engaged thereby, said sub-assemblies being articulatory with respect to each other to provide an article contact area comprising an elongated segment which may be selectively varied to form a linear segment and to form arcuate segments from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent arc to the sub-assembly at the apex thereof, and mounting means for supporting said article engaging means, said mounting means including positioning means for selective movement of said article engaging means in a direction for engagement with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means to urge such elongated article into tangential abutment with said reaction means and into selected positions of linear and concave extension therebetween, the reaction force of engagement of said article engaging means with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means comprising means for selectively generating the desired segmental Q shape of said article engaging means.

5. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 4 wherein said reaction means comprises a pair of spaced apart pulleys having parallel axes of rotation and positioned with the outer peripheries thereof rotatably engageable with the elongated article extending axially therebetween.

6. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 4 wherein each said sub-assemblies includes a set of spaced parallel side plates, a pair of spaced axles transversely connected to the side plates, and a pulley mounted on each axle thereof, there being provided a central sub-assembly and a subassembly to each side thereof, adjacent sub-assemblies including operatively engageable portions for relative rotational movement of one with respect to the other. 

1. In a forming and straightening device for elongated articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced apart reaction means mounted on said frame and positioned for axial engagement with spaced apart portions of an elongated article extending therebetween, article engaging means positioned for engagement with a portion of the elongated article intermediate said spaced apart reaction means, said article engaging means comprising an elongated articulated member defining a relatively elongated segment engageable with a portion of the elongAted article intermediate said spaced apart reaction means, said segment of said elongated articulated member extending axially of the elongated article engaged thereby and being selectively generative from a linear configuration and through various arcuate configurations from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent arc at the apex of engagement thereof with the elongated article, mounting means for said article engaging means, said mounting means including positioning means for selective movement of said article engaging means to various attitudes of engagement with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means, the reaction force of engagement of said article engaging means with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means comprising means for selectively generating the desired segmental shape of said article engaging means.
 2. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 1, including means for positioning of said article engaging means relative to said reaction means to vary the segmental shape of said elongated articulated member.
 3. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 1 wherein said reaction means comprises a pair of spaced apart pulleys having parallel axes of rotation and positioned with the outer peripheries thereof rotatably engageable with the elongated article extending axially therebetween.
 4. In a forming and straightening device for elongated articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of spaced apart reaction means mounted on said frame and positioned for axial engagement with spaced apart portions of an elongated article extending therebetween, article engaging means positioned intermediate said spaced apart reaction means for axial engagement with a portion of an elongated article extending between such spaced apart reaction means, said article engaging means including a plurality of sub-assemblies positioned to provide a contact area extending along a relatively elongate portion of the elongated article engaged thereby, said sub-assemblies being articulatory with respect to each other to provide an article contact area comprising an elongated segment which may be selectively varied to form a linear segment and to form arcuate segments from one having an infinite radius to one forming a tangent arc to the sub-assembly at the apex thereof, and mounting means for supporting said article engaging means, said mounting means including positioning means for selective movement of said article engaging means in a direction for engagement with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means to urge such elongated article into tangential abutment with said reaction means and into selected positions of linear and concave extension therebetween, the reaction force of engagement of said article engaging means with a portion of an elongated article extending between said reaction means comprising means for selectively generating the desired segmental shape of said article engaging means.
 5. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 4 wherein said reaction means comprises a pair of spaced apart pulleys having parallel axes of rotation and positioned with the outer peripheries thereof rotatably engageable with the elongated article extending axially therebetween.
 6. A forming and straightening device as specified in claim 4 wherein each said sub-assemblies includes a set of spaced parallel side plates, a pair of spaced axles transversely connected to the side plates, and a pulley mounted on each axle thereof, there being provided a central sub-assembly and a subassembly to each side thereof, adjacent sub-assemblies including operatively engageable portions for relative rotational movement of one with respect to the other. 